A hole bored clean through the Embroidered-Uniform Emissary's body, and she crashed down inside the garrison fortress.
Wisps of spiritual fire surged through the wound, making it impossible for her aberrant tissues to mend the injury. Thus, she lay there, unable to move.
Guards stationed in the fortress rushed forward to aid her, swiftly transferring her deep into the interior.
In that brief interval, an abrupt silence fell outside.
Yet this sudden quiet filled the Embroidered-Uniform Emissary with immense dread.
Her dread soon materialized into reality. Barely a dozen breaths later, two fiercely blazing spiritual impacts crashed in from outside.
Wherever they swept, structures and fortifications were razed to the ground, and even the pathway she had just occupied vanished into oblivion.
Fortunately, she had already been moved to a safe location ahead of time and was spared the blast.
Still, she knew that finding shelter now was nothing more than prolonging her dying gasps. Deprived of martial artists to hold the line, these fortifications were of little use and would be breached before long.
Straining with all her might, she forced her voice out: "Go to the underground works... inform His Majesty of the situation here at once... The enemy's force is overwhelming, both generals have fallen, and our troops cannot hold out for long. Your servant has failed Your Majesty... I shall repay Your Majesty's favor with my life—"
On the side of the Great Shun garrison, Shan Yuchuan looked up at Chen Chuan standing poised in the air with his saber. Across from him, nothing remained save for ashes drifting down.
He knew the overall outcome was decided, while an overwhelming surge of admiration welled up within his heart.
In truth, he had not been able to see the exact details of their clash. But each time one of Wan Ke's aspect bodies was shattered, it caused his mental field to rupture and scatter—something Shan Yuchuan had no trouble discerning.
It was therefore easy to deduce that Chen Chuan had suppressed Wan Ke from beginning to end, while the latter had seemingly failed to mount any effective counterattack.
As these thoughts crossed his mind, he saw Chen Chuan turn his head and nod toward him, bringing immense reassurance to his heart.
With a sweep of his hand, he drew out a handful of throwing darts and turned his gaze toward the former imperial household airships that had accompanied the Sky Whale and were now attempting to flee. Once cyan spiritual fire ignited upon the darts, he hurled them outward.
As several thin streams of light pierced the night sky, the fleeing airships exploded midair one after another, tumbling from the heavens as white-phosphorus flames blanketed the earth below.
Having dealt with these, he immediately commanded his adjutant and the senior officers present, "Issue the order: all units are to proceed according to plan!"
"Yes, Sir!"
The numerous officers snapped salutes, excitement showing plainly across their faces.
After a short while, a broad swath of cyan light suddenly painted the sky, illuminating half the heavens.
Chen Chuan raised his head to glance at it. Its effect was somewhat similar to that relic he had encountered in Jibei Dao years ago, only its scope appeared even vaster.
The hum of propellers drifted from afar as airships ascended from behind the military encampment, speeding toward the former imperial garrison. Combat vehicles surged forward along the ground below, followed further back by soldiers advancing rapidly in dispersed squad formations.
The airships bypassed the former imperial fortress currently being ravaged by the spiritual impacts, pressing on toward the rear.
By the time the main force from the rear arrived, every above-ground structure had been flattened, and the remaining enemy troops had fully retreated underground to make a stubborn last stand.
None of this posed any threat to the overall situation. Having lost their high-tier combat power, leaving behind a sufficient force to bottle them up would ensure they could not emerge to harass the supply lines.
The bulk of the army continued advancing, and several hours later, they seized an important military pass originally held by the former imperial household, sweeping away the garrison stationed there.
Chen Chuan arrived there at Shan Yuchuan's invitation. Around that time, Hong Ancheng and Zhu Kongqi also arrived to rendezvous with them.
Upon spotting Chen Chuan, the two stepped forward and saluted him. "Officer Chen."
Both harbored boundless admiration. They had been the ones to strike first, fighting two-on-one, yet Chen Chuan had arrived later and defeated his opponent first.
That was General of Chariots and Cavalry Wan Ke of the former imperial household. Holding such an appointment meant he was outstanding even among their Cave Mystery View martial artists, yet he had been dealt with so effortlessly.
Then again, considering Chen Chuan's previous track record, it seemed entirely reasonable. Having someone like him on their side was truly a tremendous blessing.
Chen Chuan raised a hand and politely returned the salute.
Hong and Zhu introduced themselves before Hong Ancheng asked, "Officer Chen, I've heard that Cave Mystery View martial artists are notoriously difficult to kill. Are we likely to run into this Wan Ke again later?"
Zhu Kongqi's expression turned somber. That was the terrifying thing about the Cave Mystery View: not only was their combat power fearsome, but they were exceptionally hard to kill. Though defeated today, he might very well reappear before them in the future.
Chen Chuan replied calmly, "Neither of you need worry about this. Wan Ke will not be appearing again."
Hong and Zhu's hearts skipped a beat as they exchanged a glance. Did that mean Wan Ke had been completely eliminated by him?
They did not know how it had been accomplished, but since Chen Chuan said so, they were inclined to believe him.
Then again, thinking back to the battle at Tianji Peak, what had shaken people most was not just Chen Chuan defeating multiple opponents of the same tier in a single stroke, but that every single one had been slain in that battle, without a single survivor. That was what the ruling echelons across the world feared above all else.
Small wonder they had heard whispers about pushing Chen Chuan to sign the treaty as soon as possible. With such a formidable martial artist unconstrained by any bonds, how many countries and corporations in the world could truly sleep easy?
Shan Yuchuan waited for them to finish talking before speaking up: "Gentlemen, with the former imperial garrison in Anbei Dao broken, this Xianglan Mountain Pass has fallen into our hands. Further south lie virtually unobstructed plains and broad mountain roads.
"We can push straight toward Tongling Pass, the northern gate of Youdu. You could say their heartland is now exposed right before us."
Standing there and looking out, Chen Chuan saw that indeed, once beyond the mountain pass beneath their feet, an endless flat road stretched ahead. The aberrant flora nearby had been thoroughly cleared away, making it ideal for the passage of a large army.
Even using the most conservative tactics—building fortified lines step by step along this route—they could push all the way to the former imperial household's doorstep.
Naturally, that was the old way of doing things. Now that the decision had been made to annihilate the former imperial household, the decisive clashes would certainly be settled by martial artists. The conventional forces would merely handle mop-up duties, exterminating remnants, pacifying regions, and constructing fortifications.
Shan Yuchuan's demeanor grew slightly more serious: "However, this northern gateway is of unspeakable importance to the former imperial household. According to intelligence I received earlier, their General of Agile Cavalry, Yuan Congye, has concluded his cultivation and should currently be in Youdu.
"It is still uncertain whether the former emperor, upon learning of the loss of Xianglan Mountain Pass, will dispatch him to lead their main force to retake this place."
Yuan Congye was a member of the imperial clan whom the reigning former emperor had personally elevated. He was undeniably capable, said to be the most talented individual in the former imperial household in a century, having reached the Cave Mystery View in his early twenties.
Furthermore, he had traveled to the Western Continent's convergence zones, and it was said he had never lost a duel.
Hong and Zhu could not help but compare him to Chen Chuan. The two shared certain similarities, both having gained renown across nations in their twenties. Yet Chen Chuan's achievements were rock-solid, whereas the rumors surrounding Yuan Congye were vague and lacked concrete proof; one could not rule out embellishment by the former imperial household.
Chen Chuan, however, wondered whether this Yuan Congye possessed a secret diagram bloodline. If not, it would mean the former imperial household still had other formidable figures up their sleeve, which was highly probable.
At present, the major schools, nations, and factions all seemed to keep those possessing secret diagram bloodlines hidden away, rarely allowing them to show themselves. He suspected this was likely in hopes that they could embrace higher-tier power as early as possible.
Zhu Kongqi thought for a moment before saying with gravity, "If the former imperial household sends Yuan Congye this time, he won't come alone. He will likely lead numerous Cave Mystery View and Longevity View martial artists with him.
"If I were in their position, I would react within the next few days to retake the pass before we commit more forces."
Hong Ancheng agreed: "Very likely. But transferring personnel to consolidate our defensive lines takes time too. Once a larger number of martial artists becomes involved, things won't be so straightforward; we may need national-level support.
"Until then, we must hold this ground. If we lose it, that bunch in the Conservative faction will surely do everything in their power to suppress us and prevent us from taking a single step further."
Zhu Kongqi said solemnly, "These coming days are critical." If any variables were to emerge, it would happen within this window.
They could not help glancing at Chen Chuan. Whether their hard-won gains could be preserved ultimately depended on him.
Chen Chuan pondered briefly and said, "I will hold this position for the time being. If anyone from the former imperial household arrives, I will deal with them."
Hearing this, the trio's confidence surged immensely.
Shan Yuchuan then said, "In that case, officers, I leave this place in your hands. Next, I need to make a trip back to Center City and see to it that Anbei Dao joins the Skyline as soon as possible."
This was of the utmost urgency. Once Anbei Dao joined the Skyline, it could legitimately receive support from other Skyline cities.
The Municipal Council would certainly be unwilling, but with Nan Shuguang dead, there was no one left to stop them. If the council members refused to cooperate, they would simply replace them with people who would.
Chen Chuan said, "General Shan, go attend to your business. We have things covered here."
Shan Yuchuan saluted the three of them with solemnity, then turned and departed.
After descending from the pass, he chose not to take an airship, instead sparing no personal energy to fly through the air, finally making it back to Center City before midnight.
At this very moment, those in Anbei Dao's Center City had already sensed that something was amiss, and they had been consistently unable to reach Nan Shuguang.
Realizing that the situation had turned, the Refined Practice School and Convergence faction members in the Municipal Council decisively contacted their headquarters. Under the pretext of a suspected armed mutiny among the garrison in the convergence zone, they requested that their respective factions dispatch martial artists to enter the fray and secure the city.
Chapter 1391